Sociologist submits gay marriage proposal to Chinese government again

Respected sociologist Li Yinhe has submitted a proposal to China's government suggesting legalizing gay marriage, as she has regularly since 2003.

Li said on Sina Weibo (China's Twitter) that a member of the National People's Congress (NPC) has taken her proposal to the NPC annual meeting that started this week in Beijing.

'Homosexual people are Chinese citizens and there are homosexuals who want to get married. Their request should be addressed as it does not run against their civil rights as citizens,' reads Li’s proposal, South China Morning Post reports.

Li is an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights and professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. This year is the fifth time she has lobbied the NPC to legalize gay marriage.

It is unlikely however that Li's suggestion will become law as it can only become a formal legislative proposal after it is signed by 30 out of the 3,000 NPC members and no officials have supported gay marriage during Li's previous four lobbies of the NPC.

'Some of our children have been with their same-sex partners for almost ten years,' the letter said. 'They care for and love each other dearly, but they are unable to legally sign for their partners when they are ill and in need of an operation.'

The Chinese government rarely responds to calls from citizens, but that doesn't stop Li from persevering.